SLO - Krka see off Olimpija to end seven-year drought

LJUBJANA (Liga Telemach) - Krka beat Union Olimpija 87-79 in the deciding game of the Slovenian League finals to take their first title in seven years.

Krka won the first two games of the best-of-five series before Olimpija took the next two to force a deciding Game 5.

Despite playing on the road, the Novo Mesto side proved the better team and won the third title in the club's history. Olimpija fell short of taking their third crown in as many years.

Davor Marcelic scored a game-high 24 points and finals MVP Smiljan Pavic had a great game all-around with 14 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Early on, Goran Ikonic buried two three-pointers before Pavic scored on two putbacks as Krka raced to a 14-2 lead and they would never trail the rest of the way.

The visitors were up 20-13 at the end of the first quarter and blew the game wide open in the second period, outscoring their opponents 25-12 for a 45-25 halftime advantage.

Olimpija rallied in the final quarter but Krka were never under any danger.

Ikonic had 14 points and Simon Petrov chipped in with 13 for Krka.

Saso Ozbolt had a team-best 22 for Olimpija, while Jure Lalic added 16.

FIBA